Indie gaming. It might make you think of small teams – even teams of one – holed up in home offices; focused experiences that put more stake in creative game-play mechanics – your Braids and Fezs – than next-generation, video-card-frying graphics; unique aesthetics and memorable styles.
But 10 years ago, you might not have thought… Well, anything. It’s only been in the last six or seven years that the indie gaming scene has exploded. And in the future, we believe user-generated gaming platforms, including ROBLOX, will not only sustain the explosion, but grow it, as more and more people pick up on what it takes to independently develop games well before going pro.
Why did indie gaming take off?
Indie gaming hit critical mass in the mid-2000s – arguably with the release of the community-driven Xbox Live Indie Games in 2008. It happened for a few reasons: distribution, technology and a market saturated with tried-and-true game concepts.
If you were an independent game developer in the ‘90s, you had a limited audience. (“Limited” meaning your circle of friends and the scant millions of internet users who were capable of downloading shareware games.) Even if you poured yourself into a hot game, something infinitely better than the competition, you didn’t necessarily have access to the distribution channels – retailers and a web-based press – that would get your product in front of players.
Independent game developers can now distribute games via popular digital services, such as Steam and Xbox Live Arcade, mobile app stores, home-grown websites, web-based Flash and HTML5 technology, and social networks1.
Distribution doesn’t mean much if your games aren’t high-quality, so it’s just as important that the gap between what a small team and a full-fledged development studio can create continues to narrow. Many indie darlings face technical and/or budgetary constraints2, but they’ve proven able to turn lemons into lemonade. Indie developers often eschew photorealism – once the end-all-be-all of video game technology – and instead captivate players’ imaginations with style. There are plenty of tools, such as platform-specific development APIs (application programming interfaces) and Unity, readily available and capable of producing professional-looking games.
Finally, without publishers, independent game developers have freedom to escape guaranteed-to-sell, but tired game mechanics3. Players have latched onto the resulting creativity.
Empowering indie developers
While creating and distributing a game independently is easier today than ever before, there are still barriers to entry. One of the most common ways to enter game development – whether your aspiration is to go indie or not – is to modify an existing game. “Modding,” as it is known, requires that you open up a game engine and essentially reverse engineer the code. You can’t deny that it’s a useful exercise in learning by doing4, but it’s not exactly entry-level.
There are smoother ways to slip into game development. You could start with a game like LittleBigPlanet, where you can practice level design and use a game engine to create interactions and systems of play. ROBLOX takes it a step further by letting users not only practice architecture and manipulate physics, but also develop an original game from scratch. The most successful games are not only aesthetically pleasing, but built with a lot of thought put into design, interface and performance.
Base Wars: The Land, one of ROBLOX’s leading combat games, is a good example. It features about 30 character classes and, on top of that, vehicles to pilot and special weapons for each class that you can unlock through play. It’s been played more than 13 million times, which we consider a legitimate game-development success and the kind of foundation its creator, d4rk886, could conceivably use to develop better, even more successful and profitable games.
Bottom line: ROBLOX is the type of platform that can set users up for a dive into independent game development.
Parallels
In the literal sense, ROBLOX users already are doing independent game development through user-generated gaming.
Creating unique, outside-the-box gameplay
It’s logical for your first instinct to be to replicate something you saw in another game. Some of the most popular ROBLOX games – Call of Robloxia 5: Roblox at War and Apocalypse Rising, for example – are directly inspired by high-profile games, then expanded and warped in unique ways.
But we’ve also seen genres pop up on ROBLOX that you don’t see anywhere else. One of them is disaster survival. Sure, you may have once watched a tornado or towering monster wreak havoc on your SimCity, but these games pit ROBLOX players in the midst of wacky disasters. Being that everything in ROBLOX is physically simulated, you can’t just run to the nearest house and hide – because it’s probably going to come crashing down on you. You’re not likely to see many major publishers taking a chance on chaotic, disaster-survival mini games, but they’re a sensible risk for the ROBLOX developer.
Individual efforts and small teams
Most ROBLOX game developers function as one-man armies. They don’t have the luxury of hiring artists, designers and producers. So, they create focused, contained experiences and iterate on their games to improve the quality and expand the scope over time. They draw on web resources – such as ROBLOX’s forums and scripting websites – to find the knowledge and help they need.
Some users collaborate in small teams. For example, Gusmanak, the creator of Apocalypse Rising, connected with ZolarKeth, a long-time friend and ROBLOX scripter, to execute a grander-than-most vision5. Base Wars: The Land is headed up by d4rk886, but the game has a development team of three.
ROBLOX users have to find ways to organize and get things done without the benefit of experts sitting across the office. While some independent studios – TellTale Games, for instance – do have that luxury, it’s often not the case.
Distributing and promoting using the web
ROBLOX users aren’t packaging their products in boxes and selling them on store shelves. Like most independent game developers, they use web resources to promote and distribute their games. ROBLOX hosts the game for free, so it’s easily available; it’s up to the developers to spread the word through their networks and advertise wherever they see fit, including on ROBLOX itself. We’re thinking a lot about implementing and simplifying the distribution of ROBLOX games across other platforms and media, but that’s still well into the future.
A Bubble That Won’t Burst
Independent game development isn’t a passing trend. It’s actually persisted for years – for example, the Independent Games Festival was established way back in ‘986 – and crystalized recently because distribution technology and development tools got really good. Today, app stores and digital distribution are helping independently developed games reach new – not to mention large – audiences7.
ROBLOX lets users see the full cross-section of game development – everything from initial concept to distribution, promotion and post-release development. And we think exploring that cross-section gives our users a leg up on their increasing indie development competition. With indie gaming likely to stick around, there could be a big payoff.
Keep practicing development. Keep improving your product. Get your games in front of people. Create an indie game today.
i can no longer put my models and decals
Awsome idea :)
I don’t understand this
This update… I like it.
I Aprouve It And.
I am leaving Roblox because of the updates that just damage it really. I am also leaving to be more of an independent developer so I am learning C++ to use with Unity3D’s Studio.
So am I , Unity 3D has more chances to bring you into game devolepment.
More languages etc
HMM… Seems legit… Thanks for the histrory.. it was cool, and interesting.. ;)
Make it so 2+ players can play. First the owner of the group comes in. The owner then accepts/declines the users request to come in. Once the user is in they can help build and/or scrip. When the owner leaves everyone goes aswell. The owner then decides to save the progress or to not save the progress. Also, if the owner makes a mistake then they showed have something that shows there other saved times and choose to reinstall the place back.
Indie-game development is pretty cool, and is a very well-paying career in today’s tech-saturated world. It’s good to see that ROBLOX is officially entering the indie-gaming field. Of course, many of the above are right; we shouldn’t have to function as one-man armies. For example, I am a very adaptible builder; adaptible in this case meaning “I can use whatever dumb tools ROBLOX gives me to their fullest maniacal power.” However, I can’t script for the life of me. Many of my friends can script, but aren’t necessarily the “best” builders. Plenty of people just say “Let’s have a multiplayer Studio” but we need more than just an idea. I hereby challenge every able-bodied programmer out there to somehow make a functioning prototype of ROBLOX Studio. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it needs to work.
I wish we didn’t have to be one-man armies. Building with friends is much more fun. Two years ago, you’d go with your friends to a building game, and then build something awesome, take a screenshot, and then leave, and all your work gets deleted once the server stops.
Nowadays, you would probably go to one of your friends’ Personal Server if he or she has Builder Club. In the Personal Server, you’ll use the Stamper Tools and/or the better 2010 and 2009 tools. Now, you say, we can build something great! But Personal Servers have limits:
The toolbox/explorer/properties aren’t there and, unless everyone uses the DLL Hack, you can’t do anything on the “Model” scale (most tools build part-by-part, and you can’t build something, group it, and copy it quickly and efficiently.
We need a Multiplayer ROBLOX Studio Build, where the owner of a place can invite people to come and build in it with toolbox, explorer, and properties, and then save it afterwards. Yes, there are some technical issues with it, and it would be different than just solo Studio Build with more than one person. I have some answers to some of your questions:
1. Have the chat bar, because Solo Studio Build doesn’t have a chat bar.
2. Remove the play, pause, and reset buttons, obviously, because problems would arise from that.
3. The owner of the place that everyone is building would have total power over the others, like an admin. He or she can kick people from the build, save the place, etc. If the owner leaves the game, everyone gets kicked and the game gets saved if the owner wants to save it.
Multiplayer ROBLOX Studio Build would expand the users’ possibilities, allowing for places of epic greatness. Some players can build well, some players can script well, and some players are epic at both building and scripting, and those are the “one-man armies” you speak of. If the builders and the scripters could combine their efforts, ROBLOX would have out-of-this-world game, and ROBLOX would be one step closer to being “the best game it can be.”
Consider this please,
SkateBored, TheEpicBraxton, crap06, and countless others.
i agree because when i build in studio i usually feel lonely and get bored then leave.it would be cool to be able to edit in solo mode to.and insert tools should be more better like if u delete a base on top u could choose if u wanted to have it fall or float.
Sounds like a new BC feature. D:
This would B sweet. I’m the Publisher in a small team. Hydropuncher, rosiecat1ooo, kyubinaruto52, & corborb have helped me design countless prototypes for a few models already. The first one we’ve went together on is known as the M.S.F. RY3N0. We all contributed to that 1. It’s still in Testing even though it’s been in Free Models for quite some time. I publish the models and give credit to whoever helped me make and test the prototypes. We have another Prototype model too and we’re constantly rebuilding it and tweaking it’s design. We need Studio reintroduced to Build Mode B4 we can get it out there though. We also could use the Group Studio Build idea to tweak it together. Thing is Studio + Build was removed and Group Studio Build isn’t yet in the ROBLOX game. If any devs see this PLZ listen.
Oh and BTW if I told U what our idea was then some1 might steal it, sorry. :/ The other members in my group said to keep the concept under wraps until we can publish it. Sides we’re still tweaking it and it might take a while to finish. Plus there’s a bug and Studio + Build being brought back could fix it. I will tell you one thing: This vehicle will change many things in ROBLOX, among them will be your outlook on the game and how we navigate Personal Building Servers. You will be expired and awed at the mere sight of it. I’ve already said too much and Rosie and them’ll bloxx me if they find out I revealed this. C U L8R.
Subscribe to DriftCo Racing to get the prototype of this vehicle as soon as it’s published! It will be tweaked and upgraded over time, but B4 any of this can happen Build + Studio has to B brought back. It’ll B a while B4 any new models are added to the mentioned set. We also need the Add Model To Se button brought back.
Sorry 4 the long post but I had a lot to say concerning this.
Yes, please!
I totally agree on what this guy is saying. Multiplayer Studio Mode would be AMAZING!
Approved.
I agree with all but the kicking all that are building when the head owner leaves. This should be able to change. I know this stops the problem of them destroying your place but some people can trust the friends and have them make your 5% done place when you left to a 35% done place. Also there should be a auto save every 5 – 10 minutes like in personal severs so if they do destroy the place the owner can easily go back to a earlier save.
And also I’m sorry if this is already in your idea and I just misread, there should be a Head owner then owners. The Head owner makes the place but the other builders get recognition. Like with D4rk886, 885sdwsdw, and juno12345. This is what my concerns and what you should add to that idea. As I said I agree with all of your ideas and ROBLOX put this into effect please! And make a classic and terrain build option. – Laxman15 (And the countless others.)
A Head Owner being the owner of the place, and then do you mean Owners being like admins? That’s pretty awesome. Should owners also invite people to build when the Head Owner isn’t present?
As for the Terrain/Classic Build option, me and my team choose not to build with the Terrain, but it’s not something that we would need to ask the Devs about. All you have to do is ignore the tools you get and put the classic tools in the starterpack (or in Lighting and have admin commands so you say give/me/all)
We like to build with Move, Copy, Delete, Resize, Paint, Material, Surface, and CFrame.
Hit me up in-game with a message, I’m SkateBored.
Mutiplayer Studio? YES!
1: YEA! :)
2: NO NO NO! IT WILL CAUSE TESTERS TO BE UNABLE TO TEST THEIR GAMES! D:
3: Uhh… Probably…
I like the idea of a “Head Owner”, so why not allow them to have the Play, Pause, and Reset buttons? Also, this would new Studio would have to be live, so if 2 players are editing a script, they would be able to see the edits, unless they minimize the function/if part being edited (It would only minimize for them). Also, in order to stop deleting, the owner can view deleted stuff in the Workspace. So, say someone deletes a brick, the owner will see that brick in Workspace covered by a semi-transparent red box. And to make the Building faster, players can view each other’s Toobox’s if the Toolbox owner allows it. Models that will be published will have to be permited by the game’s owner.
I, too, hope to see a Personal Server of Studio soon!
You couldn’t have the Play, Pause, and Reset buttons because you can’t pause multiplayer games. Not happenin’. BUT… if ROBLOX found out a way to do that then they would get grants from the government to pause the Iranians, and we would win all the wars and be the boss nation. But yes, there would be some deleters, but it’s by invitation only. And wow I got a lot of replies. Thank you all!
I hope it ISN’T like a Personal Server. Personal Servers are BC only. Too many BC benefits and not enough NBC benefits nowadays.
But I don’t think two people would be editing the same script at once, but you’re right, it’d have to have some way to deal with that.
And there probably won’t be any deleters. You’d only invite your close friends whom you could trust. That’s the whole point.
So. I love that idea, but they should add an option called classic pbs. Were you spawn in a classic home in robloxia and with the classic tools. Idk
All you’d need for a Classic PBS would be, well, a Classic PBS. If you want to build with the Stamper Tool, why even use the Multiplayer Studio? Multiplayer Studio is for hardcore builders who want to build massive HQs, forts, buildings, and cities or just a really good model of any size. I’d use it for building an HQ for Cloud Nine Incorporated and maybe a city. After the 500k bricks come out and the Multiplayer Studio comes out, I’m gonna build a driving game with interstates, signs, truck stops, highways, cities, gas stations, etc. It’s gonna be epic.
Its Really hard if u build alone :(
I know, when I make my places I don’t go solo. I sketch a idea out and make it, then I get more ideas of another wing and then something on top of it! But when I halt to a stop I use my friends, even if I know its not done but not what to add I bring my friends get there ideas of what they would do. Then I keep going until its perfect. Which will never happen because you can ALWAYS add more. Now if your problem is your map is too big or you can’t build with stamper I reccomend moving up to Studio Build. Go into Build Mode while using Studio. You will get its tools and can insert bricks not terrain. Bricks look sharper and better to the eye like most big builders do. Try these tips and it may be a little easier. – Laxman15
i agree!
Why doesnt roblox make a button called invite to edit mode on friends profiles.Its really hard building alone.It takes me about a hour and a half to find the excat models i want and tools for the starterpack :I
roblox is not aportit we shod go out side
It may not be for most people, but for some, it’s their job.
Don’t forget that people can just play ROBLOX for fun;most people don’t stay indoors all day and spend their lifves doing this.
u cant blame xbox 360 has indie games.and besides they do have pretty good indine games when u think about it.But roblox is so awesome i am addicted to it.
.-. It’s a bit full when u build alone and there is none around u to help you do a 2 man job
Team building needs to be made because im good at building but i cant make a single script.I know a few good scripters that i could ask but team building isnt made D:
Read the LONG post I posted about team building. It’s epic.
I miss bytecode.
I know Speedy. Every one misses it but at least no one can hack.
well some people stll can hack but only a few
Talk about those computer geeks! :l
Absolutely in love with this article. Very insightful and inspiring to read about such great success, and how much a game can relate to real-world success. I tip my hat to you, ROBLOX, you have me awe-struck once again.
they should make ROBLOX studio a 2+ player for people like me, who like to collabirate games. and cool. but i still miss the bytecode cause i have to rewrite about 10,000 lines of code. but i love making games so this article rocks.
How about roblox tries to make an Amnesia:The Dark Descent Roblox version here on roblox
I wish roblox would make “Models” Easier im only 10! And if i knew id be making really good games for RP and whatnot Everynight i go to bed i can make up a game in my mind like Snap o3o x3 fr me lads
yes, more users would like team building. and the soultion to that is a multiplayer studio, its like personal servers because you can give certian ppl stuido powers and others not(or make it so only selected ppl can even join) it would allow ppl to build in studio together to make better games by making use of each persons knowledge(for example scripting and building) to make better games
It took me a while to actually realize what indie gaming actually was but near the end of the article, I knew the definition. But still they could’ve defined it in the beginning. I don’t know what that sand game with the noob statues are but I LOVE base war, bu there is a reason games like COD and Battlefield sell more than disaster games. I really find disaster survival frustrating. And for one reason, too: the fall damage script. It’s really annoying and I know the owner put it in to make the game more realistic but it’s unrealistic! I literally jumped up and down and I died. It’s just crazy! Death rates would go up to 10 people per second if people died from that height.
Awesome.
i say no dont simplyfy it again stamper made it more rubbish and more like minecraft we need to go away from minecraft and get better
i agree most people on roblox are making minecraft games why cant they just buy the game
cool story bro
We should be team building. It makes the job easier so then people don’t ask ‘How do you get GUI????’ or more annoying questions that are easy to answer.
It should be like in LBP (I play it) If you go on edit mode with a on-line friend then you build and build until your done then test it.
I agree the stamper should be better. I’ve tried making a swimming area and well it takes TIME. I’ve tried flood fill…
Also some times you just want to create a game yourself so then you can tell people a little bit of tips that you use to make the game.
Any way. I would like there to be a team build to be like you go in Configure and then see some thing called ‘Edit/Build Permission’ and you type peoples names in. I know there’s already a way by making the stuff then let it copyable then let the 2nd person edit it and blah blah blah.
That’s all I have to say.
Speeyseats chair racing is developed by like, 6 people
sorry i had a few typos in there
well alot of games i have playedon roblox seem better than my games i hav played before roblox like wizard101 clubpenguin any other games play they dont beat roblox,s coustimized games
I myself and my team (sometimes)
Me and my team created TouchLUA allowing you to write .lua on the go witch is what ROBLOX uses
Myself I have made 2 xbox indie games
This article is very true. If you were to remove what scripts roblox itself has made move your scripts you made and make up your own controls and art you could have an indie game right there. Thought the design art and base scripting wouldn’t be fun and would take a while, but this article is very true.
This makes me curious…What if ROBLOX made an actual game engine? You could argue that it already is one, but I’m talking along the lines of the Source or Unreal Engines.
It’s an interesting thing to think about; the capability of building “real” games combined with the simplicity and ease of a Roblox place. I think it’d be a great product, if Roblox ever decided to go that route, however unlikely.
i agree with the comment about team building because it would get places done quicker and then they will all get the tix from amount of people visiting
I love this idea. I think It’s splendid and pretty intriguing if you asked me. But I would appreciate if Roblox actually focused bored on team building as said comments a few boxes down. It would be great to be able to open studio or build mode while your friends are in it.
Uhh yeah. Agree below. Sometimes I need help building because I can’t build. I can do the scripting while they build. It won’t really hurt. There can still be an option to build in studio mode… Don’t take that away and make people angry…But keep it and add more which is a solo building. Then you make 2 groups of people happy rather than 1 sad and 1 happy. :)) Just an idea.
o_o my game is on the blog?
yes…yes it is
cool man this makes u a milon times more poulare than u were and u were very populare your games been on the front page for…i cant even rember the last time it was not on the first page for crying out laod!!!!
It is, because you have great imagination and skills, if you keep going on with your team of developers, you could probably make your own developing studio! Or even your own software! Keep moving foward.
mostly all i focused on is the BW:TL i have over 8k+ kills on there i love that game
I like how in the Blog, the scriptwriter is so into it. And I like how you took some users games and put them as examples. Maybe one day my game will be there.
Im currently developing about 3-5 games, sadly without a team… ;~; But learning to do things solo simplify things when you are in a group.
This has to be one of my favorite arrivals Roblox has ever wrote. This really feels encouraging, and explains a lot about how to go above and beyond coding in RBX.Lua. This actually encourages you to learn more advanced coding languages, and do something great with them.
Amazing article, good job.
geico480 should ahve been on here he stretches graphical limits truly amazing work i must say check him out his trains and his BMW M5 concept and hsi fan group in my groups on my profile
Maybe game making on Roblox shouldn’t be so independent I think they should focus on team building more us users would appreciate it.
i would like that too!
Exactly, But recently removing Team Building, They rather put Personal servers and/or Building games to the site, You can still build with friends, It just won’t be rare that thousands of other people may be there aswell.
Same, there should be a ROBLOX Multi-Studio Mode, but still have the option to use Studio Alone.
Indie games are pretty much gaining more popularity now, and nice article.
Wow,made me think about spending more time working on games
I didn’t read it all but I’ll say nice, only 3 posts wow
B-) Wow…..What Doesnt roblox hane now and days
NICE
GO TEAM ROBLOX
I very much like this article. It is very true that roblox does help you alot if your looking into going into Indie gaming in your future. While its extremely easily well set up for you to make a game on roblox since they give you so many reasources. It is stil a fantastic starting point to learning how scripting language works and how design works. If a very well experienced Roblox user goes on a Unity 3D Engine there is no doubt in my mind that they will not have any trouble picking up how it works and how to make a very high level game on that engine.
Yep.
Epical.
Nice article.
Cool story bros.
I’m Glad that Roblox is taking notice of indie developers..They work hard 24-7
Yay! Go ROBLOX!!!!
Bravo!
I am currently developing a game with a team of about 6 others, each good in their own area. (Im a scripter, 2 others are builders and a few others are artists/designers). This is a inspiring article :3
I’m an indie dev! I’m slowly developing a game for Android!
Interesting facts and stoof. I myself am an Indie Game developer and me and my buds are just starting development on a large project.
Can you make the Roblox Wiki teach us how to script in Lua in a rather “Simpler” way. Little kids would like to know how too!
i agree, i have a lot of siblings who are younger then me, (all of them are) and we all would like to script.
yeah im a kid but i understood it cause im good at pc’s but it was pretty hard. When i first looked at a script a thought what the is this.. but now I understand so…
I posted the same exact thing as Dapale. I didn’t know because the comments were still getting approved. xD
NO! Don’t simplify building/scripting anymore! The stamper tool already messes up by us having to be in edit to add our models.
If ROBLOX were really customizable, they wouldn’t hold back scripters.
Neat Neat Nice roblox
I remember Shedletsky (I think?) mentioning the correlation between ROBLOX and indie games in the blog before… Totally true.
Great article!
AWESOME
Join my game world of lands
Kew
Nice.
Hmm… yeah, customization ROCKS!
yeah it does
Approved :)
Nice.